Chicken

Question 1

Initial Distribution

Answer 1

• No distribution deal secured in 2014

- 2-year festival circuit won awards, generated interest, critical acclaim

Question 2

When was it officially released in the UK?

Answer 2

• UK cinema- May 2016 (release after festival circuit).
• Selected for film subscription/curation service MUBI, with a new film to watch every day. Acquired by Film4 for TV premiere in April ‘17.
• UK DVD release distributed by Network Releasing.

Question 3

When was it officially released in the USA/Canada/worldwide?

Answer 3

• Digital distribution in USA/Canada- Jan 2018.

- Stephenson has deal w/Amazon Prime to bring in revenue and find wider audience.

Question 4

How much was raised to make Chicken?

Answer 4

Director Joe Stephenson raised £110,000 entirely through investment by individuals(e.g. no rich friends/contacts), no funding body (e.g. BFI Film Fund) willing to fund Chicken.

Question 5

What questions does the funding of Chicken raise?

Answer 5

Raises questions about whether film industry’s accessible to lower-income filmmakers.

Question 6

Was Chicken an original idea?

Answer 6

Adapted from play by Freddie Machin that originally ran at Southwark Playhouse.

Question 7

1. How long did it take to film?

2. Who was the film produced and distributed by?

Answer 7

1. 19 days, almost all external locations so victim to rain, issues with lighting etc
2. By a new company set up by director Stephenson: B Good Picture Company. Some help from Bold Turtle Productions.

Question 8

How was the film promoted?

Answer 8

• Film festivals
• New tech vital to promoting it to a wider audience
• Some trad marketing: trailer, film poster eg w/review quotes.
• Social media played key role- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.

Question 9

Can the film still be viewed?

Answer 9

Film available on-demand now: Youtube, Google Play, Amazon Prime. Also available on Blu-ray and DVD on Amazon and Ebay, avoiding traditional distributors. Bought by MUBI to be distributed.

Question 10

1. Who is the director?

2. Who is the lead actor?

Answer 10

1. Joe Stephenson

2. Scott Chambers

Question 11

According to the Guardian review, what are the main strengths of the film and what production aspects are singled out?

Answer 11

• Chambers’s performance

- Eben Bolter’s widescreen cinematography

Question 12

B Good Picture Company

Answer 12

Founded by Joe Stephenson. Independent film & TV production company, based in London. Makes diff products- films, music videos, TV shows. Young by industry standards; rep growing rapidly, fast becoming one of most exciting London production companies.

Question 13

What awards did Chicken receive in the UK and America?

Answer 13

• Shortlisted for Best Director and Best Newcomer (Chambers) by the British Independent Film Award
• Grand Jury Award for Narrative Feature- Joe Stephenson (New Hampshire Film Festival 2015)

Question 14

What awards did Chicken receive outside of the UK and America?

Answer 14

Award for Best Film- Cine A La Vista International Film Festival 2016

Question 15

What is Network Distributing Ltd?

Answer 15

• Award-winning film and home entertainment label that releases across all genres.
• Subsidiary of Virgin Management

Question 16

How many cinemas are there in the UK?

Answer 16

3,000

Question 17

What was the film’s cumulative worldwide gross?

Answer 17

$10,412